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On July 23, 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland, The International Council of Nurses (ICN) "called for
protection of nurses and other healthcare workers who are caring for patients
infected with the monkeypox virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has
declared monkeypox a global health emergency with more than 16 thousand
reported cases from 75 countries and territories, and five deaths.1
At the frontlines of healthcare, nurses play a central role
in the response to this health emergency, particularly by providing health
education on prevention and infection control, as well as safeguarding against
stigma and discrimination. Nurses and other healthcare workers require access
to protection personal equipment (PPE) and materials in order to protect them
from exposure and limit the spread of the virus. They must also have access to
up-to-date information on modes of transmission, prevention, diagnosis,
treatment, infection control procedures, counselling and care, through
in-service or continuing education.
Dr Pamela Cipriano, ICN President, acknowledged Dr Tedros
for raising the issue of monkeypox as a global health emergency and drew
attention to the risk of infection amongst nurses who care for those infected
with monkeypox.
“As we regrettably witnessed at the height of the COVID-19
pandemic, nurses and other healthcare workers often do not have access to
proper protection against infectious diseases. In order to protect our
healthcare workforce and prevent the spread of this disease, training and
professional guidelines are required along with PPE.
ICN urges national nursing associations to actively
participate in sensitizing and educating the public about monkeypox; take
measures to combat stigma and discrimination; and help secure a safe practice
environment, including protective equipment and materials, that permits
adequate care to people with monkeypox and ensures protection of nursing
personnel from exposure to the virus.”
Howard Catton, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer, added:
“COVID-19 is far from over, and now we have a new public
health emergency in the form of monkeypox. Global health must be the number one
priority for all countries and investment in nursing has never been more
important for the achievement of healthcare for all. Never forget that it will
be our healthcare workers who will be on the frontline responding to this
latest public health emergency.
Nursing care is non-discriminatory and ICN deplores the
stigmatisation or marginalisation of anyone requiring healthcare. The monkeypox
global health emergency once again exposes, and risks exacerbating, health
inequalities.”
1 WHO Director-General's statement at the
press conference following IHR Emergency Committee regarding the multi-country
outbreak of monkeypox - 23 July 2022."
Stay safe,
Donna
